530 ON CAVES CONTAINING BONES 



and which contains in one of its cavities bones of hyenas, 

 and at the same time those of elephants, rhinoceroses and 

 horses, might be considered as belonging to this order of 

 phenomena ; but as it was not explored to any depth, it 

 cannot be certain that it is so. 



The case is different with the Kirkdale Cavern. It ha- 

 ving been visited immediately after its discovery by several 

 well informed persons, and especially by Mr Buckland, 

 every thing has been made known with respect to it. It 

 is situated in the East Riding of the county of York,, 

 twenty-five miles NNE. of the city of For A;, and at about 

 the same distance to the west from the sea and the town 

 of Scarborough. The small river of Hodgebeck is lost un- 

 der ground in the neighbourhood, much in the same way 

 as the Piuka, near Adelsberg. It is placed in one of the 

 limestone hills which form the northern boundary of the 

 vale of Pickering, the waters of which fall into the Der- 

 went. Mr Buckland compares the stone to that of the 

 last strata of the Alpine limestone, such as are seen near 

 Aigle and Meillene. 



It was in the course of the year 1821, that some la- 

 bourers working at a quarry, discovered by chance the 

 opening, which was closed by rubbish, covered over 

 with earth and turf. It is about 100 feet above the 

 neighbouring brook. It can be entered to the distance 

 of 150 or 00 feet, but we can only walk erect in some 

 places, on account of the stalactites. On its sides there 

 are seen spines of sea-urchins and other marine remains r 

 incrusted in the mass of the rock ; but it is on the bottom, 

 and there only, that there is found the stratum of mud, 

 of about a foot thick, stuck full of bones, as at Gay- 





